Scot Giles sent me the following e-mail for posting on this newsgroup: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislation updates (provided as a service by the National Federation of Hypnotists/AFL-CIO, the unionized political arm of the National Guild of Hypnotists): 1. California. Assemblyman Woods had entered a bill (AB 276) for the regulation of hypnotism in California this year. In response to the problems encountered last year, Assemblyman Woods has attempted to create a more inclusive process, inviting representatives of the National Guild of Hypnotists, the National Federation of Hypnotists, the American Board of Hypnotherapy, the Hypnosis Motivation Institute and the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners, and several hypnosis schools to negotiate. The first attempt at negotiation, using a consultation process with a paid facilitator hired by HMI, failed when representatives of all the larger hypnosis organization concluded that the process was biased against their membership and withdrew. In the wake of this walkout, Assemblyman Woods has personally intervened and is working with the leaders of the larger hypnosis organizations (ABH, NGH, NFH, ACHE) to create a bill for next year that all parties will sign off on. AB 276 has been turned into a two-year bill to hold the place of the legislation while this process is going forward. At the present time the process seems to be going well and it is likely that a "paperwork only" registration bill similar to the law in Washington State will be proposed for action in 1998. 2. Indiana. The nation's first license law for hypnotism is likely to become law in Indiana this year. SB 74, a cooperative bill created by representatives of NGH/NFH and ACHE has passed the Senate and the House and is awaiting the action of the Governor. While a previous version of this bill was vetoed in response to action by NGH and NFH with the veto upheld this year--the present version has the support of all parties. The Indiana license law creates a regulatory body for hypnotism under the medical board and requires 150 hours of classroom training, 50 hours of video or multimedia instruction, and 150 hours of supervised practice. Candidates also have to pass a standard license exam. Grandparenting is not generous in this legislation and some Indiana hypnotists will have to retrain. NGH and NFH members in Indiana will receive a letter explaining this bill if the Governor signs it. Correspondence courses for hypnotherapy (such as the HMI program) will not count for licensure. However, wording is in the bill that may allow persons holding the DCH degree from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy to use their degree professionally provided they also attend a training program that includes 150 hours of physical presence in a classroom with an instructor who is also physically present. AIH was consulted in the creation of this legislation so that their degree could still serve as an advanced professional credential. 3. Illinois. On May 15, 1997 the Illinois Senate passed the Hypnotist [41 lines left ... full text available at <url:http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/go?choice=message&table=05_1997&mid=3237433&hilit=HYPNOSIS> ] -------------------------------- Article-ID: 05_1997&3366550 Score: 86 Subject: Re: Healing your body with HYPNOSIS